Lot n° 270
Estimation :
8000 - 10000
EUR
FERDINAND, prince de Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha (1861-1948) - Lot 270
FERDINAND, prince de Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha (1861-1948)
Autograph document signed: "Ferdinand", Lisbon, January 22, 1884, entitled: Mon voyage à Moscou pour le corononnement impérial, 12 pages, folio on headed paper with his monogram under a royal crown, text in German, good condition. Attached is a photographic portrait of the prince at this time, signed Koller Karoly, in Budapest, showing him posing in hussar uniform. Vintage albumen print mounted on cardboard, with the photographer's name on the back. Cabinet size.
A fascinating text recounting the coronation ceremonies of Emperor Alexander III and Empress Maria Feodorovna, celebrated in Moscow in May 1883, in which he participated as his uncle's official representative. This memoir is the king's only known biographical and autograph text. It was written when he was the guest of his uncle, Ferdinand II, King Consort of Portugal (1816-1885), his father's brother, to recount his experiences at the Imperial Court of Russia. It is therefore a historical play of the utmost importance. A complete version translated into German and Bulgarian will be given to the purchaser.
- Translation of part of the text: My uncle, His Royal Highness the Duke of Saxony Coburg-Gotha, entrusted me with the mission of representing him at the Emperor's coronation in Moscow. So I left Vienna with my retinue at 11 a.m. on May 18. From Vienna to Warsaw, the Kaiser Ferdinand-Nordbahn provided me with a magnificent lounge car. The weather was magnificent, which added to the pleasure of the journey through the beautiful landscapes of Lower Austria, Moravia and Silesia. By 9 o'clock in the evening, we were at Granica, the border post between Austria and Russia, where I was solemnly received by the Russian military and civil authorities. After an hour's stop for supper, we continued our journey. The region is suddenly flattening out and losing all its relief. On the 19th, we arrived in Warsaw at 7 a.m., having slept well in our comfortable Northern Railway lounge car. But the weather had changed completely: it rained in the morning and was very cool. In the courtyard lounge of Bromberg station, I was received on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia by the Chief Warrant Officer, Colonel Baranoff, who welcomed me on behalf of the Emperor. This gentleman remained at my service throughout my stay in Russia. I only parted company with him in Warsaw, on June 17. It was in the aforementioned court salon that we had breakfast, served by officials of the Imperial Russian Court. We then travelled to Prague station, half an hour's drive away, in waiting court carriages. The court coachmen and lackeys all wore long, bright red coats with yellow silk trimmings, on which the imperial coat of arms was woven. The city of Warsaw, which in part has wide, beautiful streets with tall, handsome buildings, was often decorated with flags. But Praga, the suburbs, is more like a large, sprawling village. From Prague station, we left at 9.20 a.m. for Moscow on an imperial train. In this courtyard train, I found a magnificent lounge car, decorated in pale blue silk and equipped with every comfort. At the head of the train were the directors of the relevant railroads, in full uniform. The region from here on is equally monotonous. The train passes through miles of swampy landscape and coniferous forests with little wood growth. The entire region from Brest-Litowskii to Borisov on the Berezina, where Napoleon fell on November 27, 1812 - some 400 kilometers - is of this character. On the other hand, this region is renowned for its abundance of game, especially poultry. In the vicinity of human settlements, which are extremely rare in the landscapes I've just mentioned, you could see the fruit trees in full bloom, which are also found here. Unfortunately, it rained for most of the day. After Borisov, and especially around Smolensk, the region becomes more pleasant, and we are delighted to see a few rows of hills near the latter town, which unfortunately are rapidly disappearing. Smolensk, although partly situated on low hills, gives a rather pleasant impression from afar; the numerous (25) churches in Russian-Eastern style, with their many colorful domes, are particularly interesting, while the buildings themselves are whitewashed with fertilizer. The dwellings contrast sharply with these buildings and are po
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